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Toronto Star
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Rooney, Schepers, Philips named PWHL's three stars of the week
TORONTO - Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney and forward Liz Schepers have been named the PWHL's three stars of the week. Philips capped her standout rookie campaign with 36 saves in a 2–1 overtime loss in Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, earning the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award despite the Charge dropping the best-of-five series.
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rooney, Schepers, Philips named PWHL's three stars of the week
TORONTO – Ottawa Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips, Minnesota Frost goaltender Maddie Rooney and forward Liz Schepers have been named the PWHL's three stars of the week. Philips capped her standout rookie campaign with 36 saves in a 2–1 overtime loss in Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, earning the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award despite the Charge dropping the best-of-five series. She led all post-season goaltenders with a 1.23 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage, following a regular season where she posted a 2.11 GAA and .919 save percentage. The 24-year-old started the season as Emerance Maschmeyer's backup before the latter went down with a lower-body injury in mid-March. Rooney was stellar on the other side, making 33 saves in Minnesota's title-clinching win to finish the playoffs undefeated at 5–0. She turned aside 30 or more shots in three straight games for the first time in her career, closing the post-season with a 1.75 GAA and .932 save percentage — both third among playoff goalies. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Schepers scored the overtime winner on Monday to secure a second straight Walter Cup for the Frost. The 26-year-old's goal was her only point of the playoffs and came on her lone shot in Game 4. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
After close loss in PWHL Finals, Ottawa Charge brace for roster shakeup
Social Sharing The Ottawa Charge have plenty to be proud of after a strong showing in the Professional Women's Hockey League's second season, but the real test lies ahead with inevitable roster changes. Following a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the Minnesota Frost in the deciding Game 4 of the Walter Cup final on Monday, players were still processing the defeat while also dealing with uncertainty about what the team will look like next season. As the league prepares to expand into Vancouver and Seattle, the Charge and the other five current teams will lose four players to the expansion draft. Each team can protect three players initially, with the option to protect a fourth after two are selected. Protection lists are due next Tuesday, and with significant changes expected, the Charge's path forward is anything but certain. General manager Mike Hirshfeld said they have already decided on who they will protect and will be letting players know Thursday during exit meetings. "It's going to be a tough day," Hirshfeld said. "I'm sure of it, not looking forward to some of the conversations, but I also understand that this is a great moment for this league." The Charge (12-2-4-12) finished third in the regular season to advance to the playoffs for the first time. Ottawa beat top-seeded Montreal Victoire in the opening semifinal round to earn a berth in the final. The PWHL expansion draft: Explained 7 days ago Duration 0:55 CBC Sports' Karissa Donkin runs through the rules of the PWHL's expansion draft, explaining how new clubs in Seattle and Vancouver will fill their roster. Ottawa had a strong showing in the final, but an inability to score when most needed proved costly as defending champion Minnesota took the best-of-five series 3-1. Every game required overtime and was decided by one goal. "There's a lot to be proud of this group and this year, highs and lows, injuries of top players, and there's a lot that happened this year and to be where we ended up is pretty special," said forward Gabbie Hughes. "That just speaks volumes to the group that we have." 'A lot of opportunity ahead' There was much to like from where Ottawa started the season to where it ended. The Charge failed to qualify for the playoffs last season but were able to persevere and punch their ticket on the final day of the regular season. "Really proud of the gains we made here from year one to year two," said coach Carla MacLeod. "But, you know, by no means are we going to sit back and rest on our laurels. We're going to keep going here, so there's a lot of opportunity ahead of us." WATCH | Philips claims Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award: Charge goaltender Gwyneth Philips claims Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP award 3 days ago Duration 1:08 Much will be made of goaltender Gwyneth Philips's emergence. Philips had a limited role as Emerance Maschmeyer's backup early in the season, but when the veteran netminder went down in March the 25-year-old rookie stepped in with poise making a strong impression in net. Through eight playoff games Philips posted a .952 save percentage, made 257 of 270 saves throughout the Charge's playoff run and was named 2025 Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. "For a goalie to have success, you know, people in front of them have to be playing well, and I think we played really well, especially defensively," Philips said. "And so, I think definitely some other people in the series it could have gone to them, but I think it does kind of validate how good we were defensively." Philips admitted the expansion draft served as incentive through the playoffs. "We knew this team wasn't going to look the same, and how much respect and love we had for each other, we wanted to go out with a bang." Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Maschmeyer were Ottawa's first signings when the league launched, but it would be surprising to see all three return next season. While they understand it's part of the business it doesn't make it any easier. "I think growth for the league is great, it's exciting," said Clark. "But obviously it's not lost on us that the reality is that there could be some big changes."
CBS News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Minnesota Frost celebrate second Walter Cup victory in St. Paul
Frost players and fans paraded through Saint Paul Wednesday evening to celebrate their Walter Cup victory. Cheers and chanting, and a side of gratitude. "It's awesome. The state of Minnesota's always behind us. We're just excited to share it with them for the second time," said Frost goalie Nicole Hensley. "We have the best fans in the league. They showed out in all of our home games this season," said Frost defender Claire Thompson. "I grew up playing hockey. I've been playing my whole life. When they won, winning the cup two times in a row I was like *gasp*," said Anna Franco of Detroit Lakes. "We're super excited about this. The Walter Cup is officially a Saint Paul resident. No other city has one. We've got two," said Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. It's the second Walter Cup awarded since the PWHL began in 2023. Both times to the Minnesota Frost. Wednesday's rain didn't stop the downtown march, which ended in a celebratory ceremony at the Xcel Energy Center. "Lets go frost! Lets frost 'em over again next year and the year after that," said Natalie Ernst of Richfield. The 2025 PWHL draft will be on June 24, 2025 in Ottawa.
Ottawa Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Charge players have never been closer. Now, they're about to break up
Article content Just hours after the Ottawa Charge was dealt heartbreak in a third consecutive overtime loss to the Minnesota Frost, its players gathered in a nearby Saint Paul restaurant — sharing one of their last meals together before reality set in. Article content Their season was over after losing the PWHL finals 3-1. And with the league's expansion draft looming in just two weeks' time, the Charge players weren't pretending otherwise. In fact, forward Gabbie Hughes leaned right into it. Spotting general manager Mike Hirshfeld's unattended overcoat and arena credentials, she threw it on and said as gruffly as she could: Article content Article content Article content 'It's what you sign up for when you become a pro,' Hughes said in the team's season-end media availability. 'You don't know what the road is going to bring you.' Article content That uncertainty is especially poignant for the Charge, which stunned the league with its run to the playoff finals. But with expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver entering the fold, rosters across the league are about to change dramatically. Article content 'It's exciting for the league, but as players, there's a lot of emotions that go with it,' forward Emily Clark added. 'You want (the Walter Cup) so bad, and you come so close, and you look around the room and you know the reality is that that exact group won't be together.' Article content Article content As the players shared laughs that night in Saint Paul, Hirshfeld and the Charge had already finalized the three players they intend to name on their protection list for June 3. Thursday, those players will be notified of their protection status during their exit meetings with Hirshfeld and coach Carla MacLeod. Article content Article content From there, this underdog team that came together at the right time will splinter as many players accept that they won't be reporting to Ottawa in the fall for training camp. While select players may be seeking an opportunity to play a more significant role elsewhere, the sense from the team's season-end press conference was that nobody wanted to leave. Article content Conversations about the draft have become commonplace among players, even as the nerves associated with it kick up another notch with the season having ended. Article content 'It's fun in its own right, to talk about what you think might happen around the league,' Clark said. 'Everyone you know wants to put their GM hat on.'
